Sweet Cardamom Bread
Soft cardamom-flavored bread paired with honey-orange butter delivers a sweet, aromatic treat perfect for breakfast, brunch, or afternoon tea.
Equipment
- 1 large bowl
- 1 small bowl
- 1 baking sheet or loaf pan
- 1 wire rack
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 1/4 tsp 1 packet active dry yeast
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup warm milk 110°F
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter softened
- 1 large egg room temperature
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 2-3 tbsp honey to taste
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1-2 tsp freshly squeezed orange juice
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, yeast, ground cardamom, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, combine warm milk, softened butter, and egg.
- Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until a soft dough forms.
- Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- Punch down the dough and shape into a loaf or preferred form.
- Place shaped dough on a baking sheet or in a loaf pan, cover, and let rise until puffy, about 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake the bread for 30–35 minutes until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped.
- Cool bread on a wire rack before slicing.
- To make honey orange butter, beat softened butter until smooth, then mix in honey, orange zest, and orange juice until creamy.
- Slice the bread and spread with honey orange butter while still slightly warm.
Notes
- Use warm milk to properly activate yeast.
- Freshly ground cardamom provides a brighter flavor.
- Add cinnamon or nutmeg to butter for extra warmth.
- Store bread wrapped at room temperature up to 3 days; refrigerate butter airtight.